Washington fire chief rolling into renewal of his contract

That’s because the Washington Fire Department board hasn’t acted on Vaughn’s employment status even though four of the five members recommended in executive session at the board’s June 10 meeting that Vaughn’s contact not be renewed.

Three of the four board members who didn’t want Vaughn to remain fire chief left the board this month.

Bob Linsley and Bill Hartter had to depart because their terms expired in October. Ken Klotz resigned.

Brian Barron, who abstained in the June executive session straw vote, and Regina Slonneger are the lone board holdouts. They were joined this month by Will Galloway, who replaced Linsley as the city of Washington’s representative to the board.

Vaughn, 55, is Washington’s first full-time fire chief. He retired as East Peoria fire chief in 2008 to take the Washington job and was given a three-year contract.

The contract was renewed in 2011 for three years and will renew Friday for three years.

News of his possible departure led to pleas from supporters at packed and tense Washington City Council and Fire Department board meetings July 7 and July 8.

The board and Vaughn released a statement July 11 that said they agree there are differences in philosophies that need to be addressed, and they will work together “to come to a solution for the betterment of the department and community.”

Barron said Tuesday the board hasn’t met with Vaughn, and he doesn’t know if they’ll meet before the board’s next scheduled meeting Aug. 13.

Barron represents the Fire Department staff and Slonneger represents the Pleasant View Fire Protection District on the board. Klotz was the board’s at-large member, selected by other members.

Hartter represented the Central Fire Protection District on the board. The district board hasn’t named his replacement.

Eric Dupree, president of the three-member district board that normally meets once a year in the fall, said Tuesday the board will hold a special meeting in the next few weeks to approve Hartter’s successor.

He didn’t know if the selection will be made in time for the Aug. 13 Fire Department board meeting.

City Council decided July 21 to delay approval of the city’s annual agreement with the not-for-profit department for fire protection, ambulance and emergency services so city officials can examine the document.

The agreement includes renewal of a $600,000 payment to the department.

The city contributed an additional $102,276 toward Vaughn’s salary and benefits for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

City Administrator Tim Gleason said at the request of the previous department board, no dollar figure for Vaughn was included in the proposed 2014-15 agreement.

Only 17 of the 47 square miles the department serves are in Washington, but the city provides more than 60 percent of the department’s funding.